Patentable/Patents/US-6331897
US-6331897

Image processing method and apparatus in which a table stores by a scan line unit memory addresses at each of which a function is stored for developing an image for one line into a memory

PublishedDecember 18, 2001
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

An image processor includes an input device which inputs coded recording data, and a table generator generates a table which stores, by a scan line unit, memory addresses at each of which a function is stored for developing an image for one line into a memory, the function being generated based on the input coded recording data. The image processor also includes a developing unit which develops the input coded recording data into the memory in accordance with functions stored in the generated table.

Patent Claims
14 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.

1

1. An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting coded recording data; table storing means for storing a table of a plurality of sets of memory addresses, wherein each set includes memory addresses of paint functions each corresponding to a respective one color element, each set corresponds to a respectively unique combination of types of paint processes for respective color elements, and each of the paint processes corresponds to a paint method and presence or absence of a corresponding color element; determination means for determining a specified paint method; judging means for judging presence or absence of each color element; pointer control means for controlling a pointer for the table to point to one of the plurality of sets of memory addresses in accordance with the specified paint method and the presence or absence of each color element; and developing means for developing an image of one scan line into a memory by executing each of the paint functions, stored at the addresses included in one of the plurality of sets pointed to by the pointer, for respective color elements.

2

2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said table storing means has a plurality of tables each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of paint methods.

3

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising output means for outputting the image developed by said developing means.

4

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising print means for printing the image developed by said developing means.

5

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said print means comprises an ink jet printer.

6

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises an ink jet printer.

7

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising mode determination means for determining a set mode, wherein the table stored in said table storing means comprises a memory address of a paint function corresponding to monochrome image data, and said pointer control means controls the pointer for the table to point to the memory address of the paint function corresponding to the monochrome image data, if the set mode is a monochrome mode.

8

8. An image processing method for an image processing apparatus for receiving coded recording information in units of pages, and recording and outputting an image on a recording medium, comprising: inputting coded recording data; storing in a table a plurality of sets of memory addresses, wherein each set includes memory addresses of paint functions each corresponding to a respective one color element, each set corresponds to a respectively unique combination of types of paint processes for respective color elements, and each of the paint processes corresponds to a paint method and presence or absence of a corresponding color element; determining a specified paint method; judging presence or absence of each color element; controlling a pointer for the table to point to one of the plurality of sets of memory addresses in accordance with the specified paint method and the presence or absence of each color element; and developing an image of one scan line into a memory by executing each of the paint functions, stored at the addresses included in one of the plurality of sets pointed to by the pointer, for respective color elements.

9

9. An image processing method according to claim 8, wherein said method uses a plurality of tables each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of paint methods.

10

10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising an output step of outputting the image developed by said developing step.

11

11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising a print step of printing the image developed by said developing step.

12

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said print step prints with an ink jet printer.

13

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein said image processing apparatus comprises an ink jet printer.

14

14. A method according to claim 8, further comprising a mode determination step of determining a set mode, wherein the table comprises a memory address of a paint function corresponding to monochrome image data, and in said pointer control step, the pointer for the table is controlled to point to the memory address of the paint function corresponding to the monochrome image data, if the set mode is a monochrome mode.

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

January 24, 1997

Publication Date

December 18, 2001

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Cite as: Patentable. “Image processing method and apparatus in which a table stores by a scan line unit memory addresses at each of which a function is stored for developing an image for one line into a memory” (US-6331897). https://patentable.app/patents/US-6331897

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